Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis of surgical mask from production to recycling into hydrogen process

Abstract

Global greenhouse gas emissions and medical supply management systems are facing increasing challenges at the social, environmental, and economic levels. This study aims to propose a multi-objective assessment method coupled with life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis to evaluate the entire process of medical supply represented by surgical mask from production to recycling into hydrogen from environmental and economic perspectives. Mass and energy flow data are obtained from literature and the hydrogen production process by plasma gasification of surgical mask established using Aspen Plus. The results reveals that the life cycle energy consumption, global warming potential, acidification potential and photochem ozone creation potential in the surgical mask collection, pretreatment, plasma gasification and waste heat recovery stage account for 77.34%, 40.20%, 46.00% and 44.63% of the entire life cycle, respectively. Operating costs have a significant impact and using of fully automatic equipment and improving the energy consumption of plasma torches are critical to reducing system operating costs. A sensitivity analysis of the four modes of hydrogen transport is performed, and the best mode of hydrogen transport is proposed. This study provides basic information reference for the medical product management system.